Chapter 5

Entering the room, the tidy, humble living room came into view, decorated with two couches and a table she had bought from F******k Marketplace at a really cheap price. But these different-colored couches weren't what made her stumble, but the man sitting on them. Carlo. The bastard.

Anger erupted in her chest, but the sight of Marco, who was sitting at the side, made her keep her cool.

She glanced at him. "Go eat some."

Marco stood up, taking the cake while winking meaningfully at her. "Uh, I will excuse you two lovebirds then."

Once Marco disappeared into the kitchen, the calm facade she wore tore away, and all that was left was resentment. "Why are you here?"

Carlo stood up. He had a poker face, and a pair of righteous eyes behind black-framed glasses.

All this while, she had thought his heart would be different, and maybe warmer since he was her boyfriend and manager, but it turned out it was as cold as the Arctic. Otherwise, how would he feel comfortable trying to make her bed some director?

"Where have you been?" he demanded.

Nora flipped her hair, jaw tight with anger. "Go to hell and find out." But this simple action of hers gave an unobstructed view of her neck, and the fresh hickey on it was extremely obvious.

Carlo's eyes widened like he had seen a ghost, and his hand reached out, trembling while his gaze was fixated on her slender neck.

It was a hickey!

He clearly saw it.

"You slept with someone else?" His voice was so loud Nora inexplicably frowned. She swept her hair back to her shoulder and then said coldly,

"And?"

Carlo's face turned purple, lips quivering and eyes flaming. "You ran and hurt Mr. Mason for the same thing but slept with some shameless bastard?!" He sounded like he couldn't believe his words, and she couldn't believe he'd say this either.

Her hands crossed in front of her chest. "What? You don't understand how it works? I'd rather sleep with a stranger than the pathetic man you tried to set me up with!" she snapped.

Carlo's hand clenched into a fist, his face filled with emotions, mostly anger, like he wanted to punch her but was doing everything not to.

"Really? How disappointing. I always thought you were more than this, thought you were intelligent and knew what you wanted, but I was wrong! You're just another shameless, foolish slut!" he insulted. "Do you know that Mr. Mason has been taken to the hospital due to your vile actions? Do you know how enormous the bills are going to be? You're done for if he decides to take legal action against you!"

Nora’s eyes shrank when she heard this part, her brain working at high speed.

Yes, he could indeed sue her.

She had beat him up after all.

She wouldn't be guilty since it was self-defense. However, it would be troublesome if she was involved in a case with someone like him. Not only was he powerful and might twist the truth in his favor, but he also had the means to crush her in court and after. The thought made her stomach twist.

However, she wasn't about to act weak. It’s not in her blood. So she hissed, voice branded with nonchalance and confidence like she could afford the best lawyer when she couldn't even afford their next dinner. "So what? It's self-defense. He should be the one afraid."

Carlo was silent for several seconds before gritting his teeth so hard she thought she could hear them cracking. "You're stubborn, and unrealistic! Do you think he'd let you go scot-free? Ridiculous. Open your eyes and see clearly. Who will believe a washed-up girl like you over a reputable man like Mason? Stop being naïve, Nora!" His words were sharp and cutting, his tone infuriating.

Nora's face turned dark with anger.

But he didn't stop there. "Come with me and apologize now!"

She almost burst out laughing from the audacity he had to tell her this.

"Over my dead body," she squeezed out through gritted teeth.

They entered a deadlock, and in the end, Carlo flung his suit, eyes burning. "Then don't come begging me when you're done for."

And with that, he stormed out, not without leaving her bag on the couch.

Nora breathed out, and right at this moment, Marco entered the room, carrying the remaining cake on a plate. He only managed to catch a glimpse of the furious Carlo's back and also their heated voices, but he couldn't make our what they were saying. So he turned worriedly to Nora. "Sis, what happened? Why was he angry? Did you guys quarrel or what?"

Nora shook her head. "No, we were discussing something."

"Something?" Marco asked, tone suspicious. His eyes happened to flit to her slender neck when she approached, and his eyes dilated. "No—Nora?"

Nora shot him a confused look. "What?"

His hand clenched, his eyes turning fierce. "You cheated on Carlo?!"